Wudhu - Definition and Overview

People washing before prayer at the Badshahi mosque in Lahore, Pakistan

Wodoo is washing parts of the body, in clean water, as a part of the preparation for the daily prayer, Salah. Wodoo is sometimes considered as an ablution.

The ideal form is done with water. The Muslim first silently makes the niyat or intention to perform wodoo and cleanse himself of his impurities. He begins by saying bismillah (in the name of Allaah). The actions of wodoo for males follow:

1. Wash the right hand up the wrist three times, then the left hand.
2. Suck water into the mouth and spit it out three times.
3. Gently put water into the nostrils with the right hand, pinch the top of the nose with the left hand to exhale the water.
4. Wash the face (from the hairline on the forehead to where facial hair begins and ear to ear).
5. Wash the entire right arm, including the hand, three times, then the left arm three times. The Muslim should wash up to a point slightly above the elbow.
6. Wet hands and starting with your hands flat on the top of your head near the hairline, wipe them to the back of the head where hair ends and come forward. This is only done once!
7. With wet fingers, place thumbs at backs of ears, use index finger on curves of ear and middle finger to wash the ears. This is only done once
8. Starting with the right foot, wash both feet including the ankles.

Thereotically one can do one wudu for fajr salaat and be okay for the rest of the day, but certain things invalidate the ablution. They are:

1. "When urine, stool gas, blood and anything which comes out of the 2 private parts is discharged."
2. Deep sleep.
3. "Losing one's mind or reason by ingesting intoxicants, drugs, or for any other reason..."
4. "Touching, with bare hands, one's own sexual organs with lust."

Hence, most Muslims perform wudu several times a day. If water is unavailable or the amount available is insufficient, one may perform tayammum, or "dry ablution."

1. "Strike both hands lightly on pure earth, rock, or sand.
2. Wipe the face once.
3. Wipe the hands (to the wrists) as if you were washing them."

Related topics: ghusl salaat

Sources: Dr. Mamdouh N. Mohamed. Salaat: The Islamic Prayer from A to Z. 2003.